Conservation Officers are still looking for the bear that attacked two local men on Mount Proctor yesterday morning.
Conservation Officer (CO) Joe Caravetta said that five CO’s are currently working on the case, three of which are out actively searching for the injured bear.
“We are searching for her not because she is bad,” he explained. “It is because she is injured and we don’t want her to suffer, she was just protecting her cub.”
The names of the two men who were attacked have not yet been disclosed. One was released from the Elk Valley Hospital yesterday and the other was discharged from Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge today around noon. Both men were taken down to the ground during the attack and suffered non-life threatening injuries to their arms, legs and upper body. Caravetta could not comment on their injuries.
The two men, both in their mid thirties, were hiking along the ridge top of Mt. Proctor around 9 a.m. yesterday. What appeared to be a sow grizzly bear charged towards them and began attacking one man, biting his upper arm and chest area. When the man discharged pepper spray into the bear’s face, the bear backed off, but then ran at the second man.
The second man had a shotgun and discharged one shot at the bear at a very close range. The bear continued to attack the second man for a few seconds before fleeing into the bushes. One cub was seen with the sow.
The hikers were able to apply basic first aid to each other and then quickly made their way down the mountain. They arrived at the Elk Valley Hospital where they were treated for their injuries. Authorities were notified at this time.
All recreational trails in the area have been closed while the search continues today for the injured bear.
“The incident did not happen in the Fairy Creek/Mt. Proctor Recreation trail area, but for public safety, we have closed that area,” said Caravetta. “We ask that people stay out of that area until we have finished our investigation.”
Check www.thefreepress.ca for updates on this story as it continues to develop.